Filter cleaner having rotatable support and spray means

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus for filters of the cylindrical type used with carburetors of internal combustion engines comprising a tank for receiving cleaning fluid and a plurality of spray means for discharging cleaning fluid therein extending axially into the tank, a turntable adapted to support the filters rotatable about an axis concentric with one of the spray means and the turntable having axially extending means terminating adjacent the upper end of the tank, a cover adapted to close the upper end of the tank with a drive motor mounted thereon and a drive shaft extending into the upper end of the tank with means associated therewith for engaging the axially extending means of the turntable to effect rotation of the turntable.

[ 51 Mar. 21, 1972 Slaughter..............

ABSTRACT .iiili 11-11-1 5 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum Attorney-Hibben, Noyes & Bicknell A cleaning apparatus for filters of the cylindrical type used with carburetors of internal combustion engines comprising a tank for receiving cleaning fluid and a plurality of spray means for discharging cleaning fluid therein extending axially into the tank, a turntable adapted to support the filters rotatable about an axis concentric with one of the spray means and the turntable having axially extending means terminating adjacent the upper end of the tank, a cover adapted to close the upper end of the tank with a drive motor mounted thereon and a drive shaft extending into the upper end of the tank with means associated therewith for engaging the axially extending means of the turntable to effect rotation of the turntable.

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FILTER CLEANER HAVING ROTATABLE SUPPORT AND SPRAY MEANS [72] Inventor: David C. Lang, 9956 Fairfield Avenue,

Chicago, 111. 60642 Mar. 23, 1970 Appl. No.: 21,962

.134/143, 134/140, 134/152, 134/162, 134/170 Int. Cl. 3/02, B08b 9/00 Field ofSearch,.................l34/140,143,148, 149,153, 134/162, 170, 152; 68/189, 198

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1912 Sanborn et al.........................134/162 2/1923 Callahan....... ....l34/162 X l/l941 Barnum ....134/l48 X 2,951,490 9/1960 Cuillier...... ....134/l48 X 1/1955 Buck et a1..........................134/153 X United States Patent Lang [22] Filed:

FILTER CLEANER HAVING ROTATABLE SUPPORT AND SPRAY MEANS The present invention relates generally to cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for cleaning filters commonly used on automobiles and the like internal combustion engines for cleaning the air supplied to the carburetor or combustion chamber.

Air filters for automobile engines and other internal combustion engines remove dust and dirt particles contained in the air before the air enters the carburetor or combustion chamber. Unless the filter is cleaned or replaced periodically, the efficiency of the engine is substantially reduced. Since the cost of an air filter is not insignificant and since the means heretofore suggested for cleaning air filters have failed to provide an inexpensive and convenient way for cleaning the air filters, there remains a need for improving apparatus for cleaning air filters of the type used in automobiles and the like internal combustion engines.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for cleaning filters of the type commonly used by internal combustion engines.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a more convenient and inexpensive ways and means of cleaning air filters of internal combustion engines.

Other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description and claims when used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the air filter cleaning apparatus of the particular invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofthe apparatus ofFlG. 1;

H6. 3 is a perspective diagrammatic view of an assembly of air filters ready for placing in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view partially in elevation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view partially in elevation of a portion of a clamp means used to form 'the assembly of FIG. 3.

The filter cleaning apparatus of the present invention comprises a cleaning tank 10 which can have a rectangular or cylindrical cross section and which is adapted to receive therein a stack or assembly of air filter units 11 superimposed one over the other and preferably held in assembled relationship by a suitable holder or clamp means 12, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings. If desired, separators can be placed between the adjacent filter units. In the embodiment illustrating the present invention the tank 10 has a rectangular form defined by vertically extending lateral wall sections 13 and a lower wall section 14. The upper end of the tank 10 is closed by a cover member 15 pivotally mounted on one of the outwardly extending flanges 16 formed at the upper end of the wall sections 13. The tank 10 is supported on a stand 18 above floor level to facilitate drainage of liquid therefrom.

A capped spray pipe 20 extends axially into the interior of the tank 10 through a passage formed in the lower wall 14 and terminates a short distance below the cover member 15. A fixed turntable base plate 21 is secured to the spray pipe 20 at a point thereon a short distance above the lower wall 14. A circular ball bearing raceway 22 is formed concentrically with the pipe 20 and the ball bearings 23 are retained in the raceway 22 between the base plate 21 and a rotatable support means or turntable 24. The turntable 24 comprises a circular or rectangular plate rotatable about the spray pipe 20 and provides a rotatable support means for the assembly of filter units 11. The turntable 24 has two spaced support bars 32, 33 extending transversely across the upper surface of the turntable 24 which are fixedly secured thereto for supporting the assembly of filter units 11 and the axially extending means described hereinafter. The support bars 32, 33 have fixedly attached to the upper surface thereof a plurality of spaced axially extending means which preferably comprise two spaced U-shaped members 26, 27 having axially extending drive arm sections 28, 29 thereof terminating at a point slightly below the upper end of tank 10 and spaced sufficiently to accept therebetween the largest filter unit 11 to be cleaned in the tank 10. The vertically extending arm sections 28, 29 are connected by horizontally extending cross braces 30, 31 at points spaced inwardly from the upper ends thereof.

The rotatable turntable 24 also has operatively associated therewith preferably at diametrical opposite points two axially extending tie rods 34, 35. The tie rods 34, 35 preferably extend upwardly from about the midpoint of said U-shaped members 26, 27 and are adapted to have the filter units 11 mounted thereover so that the tie rods 34, 35 extend through the axial passage in the filter units 11. The upper end of each tie rod 34, 35 is preferably threaded and is adapted to have detachably mounted thereon a transversely extending compression bar 36, 37 and held in clamping engagement with the upper filter unit 1 1 of the assembly of filters by means of wing nuts 38, 39 or other detachable connector means mounted on the threaded end of each tie rod.

The turntable 24 is rotatably driven by a drive mechanism mounted in the cover member 15 and comprises an electric motor 40 having suitable reduction gear means associated therewith and with the drive shaft 41 extending downwardly through an axial opening in the cover member 15 a short distance into the interior of the cleaning tank 10. The axis of the drive shaft 41 coincides with the axis of rotation of the turntable 24. The drive shaft 41 has secured to the lower end thereof a drive bracket 42 which comprises a detachable coupling means 43 to which is bolted or otherwise fastened a drive member 44 having oppositely disposed outwardly extending end sections 45, 46 and which preferably are inclined downwardly. The end sections 45, 46 extend between the upper ends of the arm sections 28, 29 and laterally outwardly beyond the arm sections 28, 29; whereby the end sections 45,

' 46 engage the edges of the arm sections 28, 29, respectively,

when the drive bracket 42 is rotated clockwise by the motor 40 and thereby effecting rotation of the turntable 24 along with the associated means for rotatably supporting the assembly of filter units 11.

The cleaning tank 10 is also provided with additional spray pipes 50, 5], 52 and 53 which extend upwardly through the bottom wall 14 at each corner of the tank 10. Each of the spray pipes 5053 has a plurality of high velocity spray nozzles 54 disposed at spaced points along the length thereof with the nozzles 54 directed inwardly toward the vertical axis of the tank 10. The lower wall 14 has formed therein drain openings 56, 57 adapted to withdraw liquid cleaning fluid which collects in the bottom of the cleaning tank 10.

The several spray pipes 20 and 50-53 and the drain openings 56, 57 are operatively connected with cleaning liquid recycling means 60 for continuously supplying a cleaning liquid to the spray pipes and withdrawing cleaning liquid from the tank 10. The recycling means 60 comprises a cleaning liquid or solvent reservoir 61 with which the drain openings 56, 57 are connected by suitable conduits 56, 57. A minimal amount of cleaning liquid is allowed to remain in the bottom of tank 10 during the cleaning cycle. The conduits 56', 57 discharge cleaning liquid into an overflow chamber 62 where the larger dirt particles are concentrated and from which the cleaning liquid flows into the main chamber 63 of the reservoir 61. A removable cover 64 prevents escape of fumes from the reservoir 61.

A filter element 65 is disposed in the main chamber 63 of the reservoir 61 below the liquid level in the reservoir 61, and cleaning liquid is drawn through the filter element 65 and conduit 66 by means of a circulating pump 67. The circulating pump 67 discharges the filtered cleaning liquid to a plenum chamber or header means operatively connected with the lower ends of each of the spray pipes 20 and 50-53. In the form illustrated the header means comprises the manifold 68 which has three parallel branches 70, 71, 72 extending transversely below the lower wall 14 of the cleaning tank 10. The branches 70 and 72 communicate with the lower ends of the spray pipes 50, 53 and 51, 52, respectively, and the branch 71 communicates with the lower end of the axial spray pipe 20. The spray pipe 20 has two sets of high velocity spray nozzles 73 for spraying cleaning liquid in diametrically opposite directions against the inner surface of the filter units 1 1.

For convenience of placing the filter units 1 l in the cleaning tank and removing the filter units 11 from the tank 10, the filter units 11 are preferably stacked one on top of another over a vertically extending tie rod 80 having a cross-support bar 81 fixed to the lower end thereof, as best shown in FIG. 3. The upper end of the tie rod 80 is threaded and has mounted thereon a quick detachable latch means 83, as best shown in FIG. 6, which holds the stacked filter units in assembled relationship. The latch means 83 comprises a compression bar 84 preferably having a length greater than the diameter of the largest filter unit 11 to be cleaned. A passage 85 is formed in the bar 84 at about the midpoint thereof which has a diameter larger than the diameter of the rod 80, and which permits the compression bar 84 being inserted over the end of the rod 80 and moved axially therealong without engaging the threaded section of the rod 80. Oppositely disposed spaced flange members 86, 87 extend upwardly from the upper surface of the bar 84 at a point between the midpoint and one end of the bar 84. A pin 88 is supported in openings formed in the flange members 86, 87 and a lever arm 90 is pivotally mounted on the pin 88. The forward end 91 of arm 90 is enlarged and has the front surface thereof adapted to engage the threads on the tie rod 80. The thread engaging surface of the lever arm 90 is normally urged into latching engagement with the tie rod 80 by a compression spring means 93 mounted between the lower surface of the lever arm 90 and the upper surface of the compression bar 84 at a point spaced outwardly from the pivotal support for the lever arm 90. When the lever arm 90 is depressed, compressing the spring means 93, the forward end 91 of the lever arm is disengaged from the rod 80, and the latch means 83 can then be freely moved axially relative to the tie rod 80 and removed therefrom, ifdesired. The latch means 83 can, of course, be used in place of the compression bars 36, 37 and wing nuts 38, 39 on the tie rods 34, 35.

In operation, several air filters of the type used with automobile carburetors and which conventionally have a large diameter axial passage extending therethrough are stacked one above the other and are preferably held in assembled relationship, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawing. The assembly of filter units 11 is placed as a unit in the cleaning tank 10 with the tie rods 34, 35 extending through the axial openings of the filter units. When the filter units are in position within the tank 10, the latch means 83 is preferably removed and the filter units 11 secured in place on the turntable 24 by placing compression bars 36, 37 over the ends of the tie rods 34, 35 respectively, and moving the bars 36, 37 into engagement with the uppermost filter unit 11 by means of wing nuts 38, 39. With the filter units 11 held in position on the turntable 24, the cover 15 of the tank 10 is lowered into position on the upper end of the tank 10 with the end sections 45, 46 of the drive member 44 disposed between and engaging electric motor 40 turns the drive member 44 the drive arm sections 28, 29 rotate the turntable 24 relatively slowly, preferably at a speed between about 12 and 20 rpm. As the turntable 24 and the filter units are rotated, a cleaning liquid, such as a detergent solution or an organic cleaning solvent, is simultaneously sprayed onto both the inner and outer surfaces of the filter units by means of the nozzles of the axial spray pipe 20 and the comer spray pipes 50, 51, 52 and 53. The spraying of cleaning liquid continues for about 5 to l0 minutes or until all the accumulated dirt is removed from the filter units 11.

I claim:

1. A cleaning apparatus for filters which comprises: a tank for receiving cleanin liquid and provided with transversely spaced cleaning liqui spray means with said cleaning liquid spray means extending axially within said tank, a rotatable support means for said filters disposed concentrically with one of said spray means having secured thereto spaced arm members extending longitudinally upwardly within said tank and terminated adjacent the upper end of said tank, a cover member adapted to close the upper end of said tank, drive means supported by said cover member which extend into the interior of said tank for engaging said spaced arm members and rotating said support means, means associated with said support means for exerting an axial compression force on said filters and restraining said filters against axial movement relative to said support means, and means associated with said tank for continuously supplying cleaning liquid to said spray means and withdrawing cleaning liquid from said tank.

2. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said rotatable support means comprises a turntable for supporting said filters concentrically with said liquid spray means within said tank, and said means associated with said turntable for restraining axial movement of said filter comprising at least one tie rod member extending longitudinally upwardly from said turntable and having a compression bar associated therewith for exerting a clamping engagement with a said filter mounted on said turntable.

3. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said turntable has two diametrically oppositely disposed tie rod members which extend upwardly therefrom within said tank with each of said members having a said compression bar associated therewith for exerting a clamping engagement on a said filter supported on said turntable.

4. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said compression bar has a quick detachable connector means engageable with said tie rod member.

5. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said quick detachable connector means associated with said compression bar has a transverse passage therethrough adapted to freely receive said tie rod member, a lever arm pivotally supported on a surface of said compression bar at a point spaced from said passage, said arm having the forward end thereof adapted to form a secure engagement with said tie rod member, and said forward end of said arm normally urged into engagement with said tie rod member. 

1. A cleaning apparatus for filters which comprises: a tank for receiving cleaning liquid and provided with transversely spaced cleaning liquid spray means with said cleaning liquid spray means extending axially within said tank, a rotatable support means for said filters disposed concentrically with one of said spray means having secured thereto spaced arm members extending longitudinally upwardly within said tank and terminated adjacent the upper end of said tank, a cover member adapted to close the upper end of said tank, drive means supported by said cover member which extend into the interior of said tank for engaging said spaced arm members and rotating said support means, means associated with said support means for exerting an axial compression force on said filters and restraining said filters against axial movement relative to said support means, and means associated with said tank for continuously supplying cleaning liquid to said spray means and withdrawing cleaning liquid from said tank.
 2. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said rotatable support means comprises a turntable for supporting said filters concentrically with said liquid spray means within said tank, and said means associated with said turntable for restraining axial movement of said filter comprising at least one tie rod member extending longitudinally upwardly from said turntable and having a compression bar associated therewith for exerting a clamping engagement with a said filter mounted on said turntable.
 3. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said turntable has two diametrically oppositely disposed tie rod members which extend upwardly therefrom within said tank with each of said members having a said compression bar associated therewith for exerting a clamping engagement on a said filter supported on said turntable.
 4. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said compression bar has a quick detachable connector means engageable with said tie rod member.
 5. A cleaning apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said quick detAchable connector means associated with said compression bar has a transverse passage therethrough adapted to freely receive said tie rod member, a lever arm pivotally supported on a surface of said compression bar at a point spaced from said passage, said arm having the forward end thereof adapted to form a secure engagement with said tie rod member, and said forward end of said arm normally urged into engagement with said tie rod member. 